Sen. Moynihan And The Cardinals

May 14, 1992

The Laetare Medal is awarded by Notre Dame University to Roman Catholics "whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity." Past recipients include President John F. Kennedy, Clare Boothe Luce and Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker movement. This year the university intends to give the award to Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan of New York.

Some leaders of the church are not pleased. Cardinal John J. O'Connor wrote to the Notre Dame president, the Rev. Edward A. Malloy, protesting the university's decision. So did Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston. The reason? Mr. Moynihan's support of women's right to choose abortion.

In his support of abortion rights, Mr. Moynihan is no different from many other Catholic politicians such as Gov. Mario M. Cuomo of New York and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Many people who consider themselves good Catholics do not support all the church's policies.

Mr. Moynihan has an impressive record of humanitarian concern, backed up by legislative action, on behalf of the poor in America. He is a person of whom all Americans, but especially the Catholic community, can be proud.

A similar controversy has erupted in Pennsylvania, where a Catholic women's college has invited Senate candidate Lynn H. Yeakel to be its commencement speaker. Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia has criticized the college's choice because of Ms. Yeakel's pro-choice stance.

In both cases, an educational institution affiliated with the Catholic church has chosen to honor someone who holds some views the church does not endorse. These people are not candidates for holy orders, nor for any position in the church. They are people who have contributed to society and enriched it.

In both cases, intellectual freedom has clashed with orthodoxy, and some church leaders come out looking small-minded